Oolong Tea for Weight Loss?
Chinese researchers claim that "the polyphenol compound in tea - especially Oolong tea - can help obese people battle the bulge."
The research was part of a 5 year study looking at genetic causes of obesity.
Oolong (or wulong) tea sits somewhere between green and black tea in terms of fermentation. Black tea is fermented, Green Tea is unfermented, Oolong is semi-fermented.
Unfortunately the above research does not appear (yet) in an English medical journal - so we cannot delve into the details.
There is, however, a large body of research surrounding tea, - in particular its anti-oxidant properties. The Oolong Tea website points to various studies showing a possible connection between tea drinking and fat metabolism.
In many ways the health claims are similar to that of Green Tea - a healthy drink to be sure - but no miracle weight loss cure. I suspect that you would also need to be drinking considerable amounts of the tea to obtain any benefit.
Your best bet is to drink tea without milk, and avoid all the ready-to-drink tea and sugar mixes that are available.
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I just saw a Reuters video clip about a 200 pound boy whose parents may lose custody of him because of charges of neglect (because they let him gain so much weight). Among other things, they must be neglecting to feed him enough oolong tea.
Replyi love oolong, but i agree with you, it isn't a miracle weight loss drug at all. it just tastes good! :)
ReplyThis is one of the articles the Oolong tea website points to, which is about the effect of the polyphenols. Of the flavonols in black and green tea (see this and this if it opens for you) there are better sources - the amount in one serving of tea is a bit less than what you get in one serving of broccoli, and coffee is brimming with different polyphenols, as are soybeans. This just emphasizes Jim's point above:
In any case, the description of the series - rats being fed high-fat diets and putting on weight - on the Oolong Tea site is quite accurate (Shocking to a jaded person like me).Reply
Actually, I just saw another study (black tea, though, not green or oolong) that said that having milk with tea didn't lessen the antioxidant levels in the bloodstream. Which was a relief to me, since I like my tea with milk. (It also gave some guidance on how long you need to brew tea for maximum antioxidant benefits).
Not sure how to do links down here, but the study's in the "tea as cancer-fighter" post on my blog from a couple days ago, if you want to click on my user name.
ReplyI was reading on Oolong tea and ran across your blog (Crabby McsSlacker). I am not at all computer literiate so didnt know what a blog was and still dont(ha hA) but there was something saying "tea as a cancer fighter" well I clicked in and found your "blog" pretty amusing but I still didnt see anything on tea as cancer fighter can u help me with that and PLEASE explain to me what is a blog.Thanks
ReplyI looked into oolong and weight loss after seeing all the internet ads about drinking oolong tea and loosing 20 lbs in one month. Much of what these sites said took snippets of fact and turned them to their advantage.
For those that care, here is a well balanced article I found on Oolong Tea and Weight Loss:
http://www.teasetc.com/tea/article.asp?ID=1&Name=Oolong+Tea+and+Weight+Loss
I love oolong teas and incorporate them into a healthy life style - guess what? I'm losing weight!!
Replyhow many times u drink oolong tea per day to make you lose weight?
ReplyUmm...are all oolong tea work in weight lost...well...because oolong tea comes in different box designs...so I wanted to know if all oolong tea still works...
Reply"in particular it's anti-oxidant properties"
The possessive form of "it" is
ITS
No apostrophe! "It's" means it is. Now I don't know if I can trust the information provided by this writer since his intelligence is questionable. This error is as bad as the infamous "your so funny" mistake.
We are getting fatter and more stupid every day.
ReplyMichelle, are you new here? (If so, welcome!)
You missed the classic diet-blog misspelling in Loki's posting:
God help me, after reading this blog for a few months, I find "loose weight" looks pretty good...
ReplyAnd sometimes it's a good weight loss helper because it aids in relaxation after a good run. :)
I think we all understand that to effectively lose weight we need to eat right and exercise more. Many of the studies into Oolong the show weight loss effects are done with the tea being used in conjunction with other efforts. It isn't a some kind of wonder drug to lose 20lbs in a week.
I'm going to post a link here (moderator, you're welcome to remove it if you feel it necessary but I'm not trying to be spammy). We're offering free samples of Oolong tea on our site including shipping (to the US only though). You don't have to buy anything and you don't have to leave us your payment details (basically, you're not signing up for anything or agreeing to have more shipped to you). You can order it off our site at http://www.zhitea.com/TeaSampleProgram/ChooseSampleTea.aspx. You can only order one kind though. :)
Note: on the page there's a writeup about a free sample with every order. We're removing that but for now it's there - that's a different promotion and not what you're signing up for as you'll see while you're there. :)
Replyi wonder why people are so septic about oolong tea?they keep on saying lies
Replyi have been driking oolong tea for a month now...i have lost enough weight...i am so happy about that what ever people are saying...we can only find out the truth just by tryin oolong tea...not by reading lies
Iam very curious about this oolong tea, so I've ordered a so called free sample (just s/h). I
Replyrequest an address to send b4 & after pictures. I am
230 lbs. if I even get to 200 by 1st of the year. I want to be a "Success Story". Oh I will play tennis
3 times a week as a part of the exercise program.
Most people just want to see some realistic "loss"
first, instead of "so extreme loss" you can't be-
lieve it. Well you get the picture-E-mail address!
Tuni
Hi I'm new to oolong tea and cant read the instructions on the box. From wot i have read on here u drink it twice a day(can u have more?). Can u add milk or is it better straight? How long do u leave it to stand b4 drinking it? Is it better in a tea bag or just the leaf?Is there anything else i need to know
ReplyCheers Tarnz
You can get oolong tea at just about any decent grocery store, and health food stores. There's no need to pay more than about $4 for a normal size box of bags, priced like other teas at the supermarket. I got organic oolong bags for $4.29 at my nearby heatlh food store. At that price, who needs to find "samples" when we can enjoy a box for less than most places charge for shipping? Tea is extremely light (about an ounce per box), they're making profit just on the shipping. While oolong tea has awesome beneifts, please don't fall prey to the high priced schemes that online sellers try to sell you. Below is the link of the shop I bought mine at.
Replyoops... it didnt show ...here it is... I spaced the words out to reduce spam potential.
www.the health hut.com
ReplyDo not, I repeat do not spend an arm and a leg on this Wu Yi crap. Go to an Asian grocery store, they are everywhere. I got my box yesterday, and it cost me $1.99! They even threw in a free tea cup! You are supposed to drink, technically, two cups a day. But I suspect other chronic dieters will be guzzling it all day the way they did the green tea craze when it first came on the scene. I just started yesterday, if this works at all, the miracle would be on me, because nothing ever works long term on me. So folks, miss m will let you know; scam or miracle....one word of warning, I have low blood sugar issues from time to time, and I noticed yesterday that once I drank it, it felt like I hadn't eaten for four hours in my stomach, as if though it had burned up my calories quickly, even though I was not that active yesterday, and I had a stable breakfast. However, after my lunch, I drank another cup, and felt like it had burned up those calories. And, I wasn't as hungry as usual. miss m
ReplyI was wondering if you have kept up drinking the oolong tea you purchased and how you are doing with it. I would love to hear from you.
Thank you :)
ReplyI felt the same way as soon as I took my first 3 cups yesterday. My appetite was suppressed immediately and did eat less.
ReplyNow, let's use some common sense here. If you guzzle two, three, four, or more cups a day of oolong tea and do nothing else to change habits, you know you will not lose weight or even "loose weight." In fact, if you stand
Replyaround making and sit around drinking oolong all day, it will prevent you
from going out and walking or skipping rope or biking or any other movement
that will help lose weight and make you healthier. If you've seen The Biggest Loser, you know they don't take the weight off by drinking oolong
tea. And Michelle and Quito (who are probably on to other blogs)....as an editor, I'm enjoying your posts. You should probably read Eats, Shoots, and Leaves - a lighthearted book at the decline of grammar.
how often are u suppose to drink this tea a day?
Replyi drank wu-ti tea 2x a day for 1 week and felt like i was speeding on diet pills, did anyone else out there ever feel that way from dringing it?
ReplyAs everyone here has said, there is no miracle cure to obesity. Most of the studies I have found have to do with the fact that tea in general suppresses the appetite. This in turn leads to people eating less and losing some weight.
Another aspect to consider is the switch to tea from unhealthy colas and other Sugary drinks. I know the lab tests are done on a blind/scientific bases (and rats don't drink soda), but in my experience people that start drinking a lot of oolong stop drinking the unhealthy stuff. Afterall, most people can only drink so much liquid in a day.
Lastly, while the price of a high quality oolong may seem high, remember you can reuse the tea up to 7 times. Just keep refilling the same pot after you pour out all the liquid tea. This makes your tea last a lot longer, and makes it much more affordable. This is also the way Chinese drink Oolong tea(that is why they have those comically tiny cups)
By the way, I am an owner of a tea company, and I have written many articles on the health benefits of tea. They are all based off of scientific studies, so you will not find any outrageous claims being made here. Just navigate to the "Tea university" on the top left of the toolbar.
ReplyOolong Tea , from Golden Moon Tea
Hello all.
ReplyI briefly perused these comments and I am looking for someone who knows what to add to Oolong tea. My mother recently sent me a care package (for I am a freshman undergrad) and I wish to know if I should add lemon, milk, or something else to make the tea more enjoyable. I care not for weight loss or other health care facts, simply what to add. If anyone could tell me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you.
You don't really want to add anything to it. Just prepare it with hot (not boiling) water, and let it steep for 3 or 4 minutes. If it is a good quality tea, you can steep the leaves up to 3 times.
If you really need to, a bit of sugar or honey wouldn't be amiss, but plain is really best.
ReplyHey,
I heard a lot about Wu Yi Tea lately. Does this tea really benefit weight loss...anyone tried it?
cheers
ReplyJon
Hello all.
That's some great info I've gathered from all of you.
I read about OOLONG tea a couple of days ago and its benefits. However, as with everything, I like to consult someone who's more familiar with such products before I try it out.
One of my college professors is Chinese and his area of study is the mind and body, as well as how to cure dis-eases the Eastern way through herbs, exercise and meditation. Not the pill-popping Western way that only covers up the existing problem.
He told me that OOLONG tea is effective in weight loss, but IT CAN SEVERELY DAMAGE THE STOMACH IF NOT TAKEN IN MODERATION (2 CUPS A DAY). Otherwise its a safe tea to drink.
My experience with this tea is:
I've been taking it for 2 days now, and the way I know its DEFINITELY WORKING is:
MY APPETITE HAS DECREASED
AND I GET EXTREMELY WARM (ALMOST HOT) AFTER I DRINK IT. THIS MEANS THAT MY METABOLISM HAS INCREASED AND IS BURNING OFF WHATEVER ITS SUPPOSED TO BURN.
LOOK FOR THESE SIGNS, AND YOU'LL DEFINITELY FEEL IT.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU, AND DO NOT OVERDO IT. MODERATION IS THE KEY.
ALSO IN ONE STUDY RESEARCHERS ADVISED OBESE SUBJECTS NOT TO DIET OR EXERCISE, AND ONLY DRINK THE TEA FOR 6 WEEKS. THEY FOUND THOSE SUBJECTS LOST 4MM OF FAT IN THAT TIME. SO THE TEA DOES IN FACT BURN THE FAT OFF WITHOUT THE EXERCISE.
Replyhey ii wanted too kno iif thiis really wrks see ii wrk at whole foods and iit sells iit ii just wanted too kno
ReplyI think it is silly to drink oolong tea specifically because you are trying to lose weight. It probably won't do you any better or worse than any other kind of tea.
Now, enjoying a cup of oolong tea is completely different. I really do prefer it to black or green... it sort of has the best of green without the grassyness. Best prepared with hot (not boiling) water, and steeped for 3 or 4 minutes. If you get a good loose leaf oolong (rather than bagged), you can steep the leaves up to 3 times.
Reply